Managing Stress
Everyone experiences stress. As we have learned, some stress can be useful, while some stress that overstays its welcome can be damaging to the way a person thinks and feels.
How do you manage stress? Now is a good time to take what you’ve learned about stress and create strategies that work for you to limit stress in your life. First, it’s a good idea to know what your stressors are. Sit down and list them out. Are you surprised at how few or how many stressors you have? This is a good start. Now, which stressors are the biggest? Which limit you the most? Start with these.
Below you will find some tips to managing stress. Considering your biggest stressors, think of changes you can make in routine, diet, activity, and attitude in order to limit the stressor’s impact on your life. Then, apply a strategy and track how it affects your stress levels. Try the strategy for a week; if it works, keep it up. If it doesn’t work, try a different strategy until you find the one that fits that particular stressor. Remember, if you need help managing stress, use your resources: friends, family, teachers, and coaches.
- Facing the facts:
Sometimes just admitting that you are stressed is a step toward doing something to make yourself healthier. - Make a change now:
Even if you can do something small, like sleep 20 more minutes, or eat one healthy meal a day, starting now can help break the habits of stress and help you avoid depression or illness. - Get help:
Talking to family members and friends for tips and advice can help a lot. Sometimes other people have experienced the same types of stress and may have good suggestions. - Take inventory:
What are your habits and routines? What is causing you to rush or be late or miss meals? Sitting down and identifying what your stressors are allows you to begin to make changes to limit their impact on your life. One of the best ways to limit stress is by removing the stressor. What is causing you the most stress? How can you remove or at least readjust the stressor so it is less detrimental to you? - Make choices:
Sometimes life is just too busy. Look at your choices and say no to those that aren’t the most important to you. - Laugh and Relax:
Laughing lowers your blood pressure and helps you relax. Add to laughter some deep breathing or meditation, stretching, or simply visualizing pleasant things. - Exercise regularly:
Daily exercise can help release tension and frustration, and it supports the body systems that stress attacks. Try to exercise for 30 minutes, four to five times per week. - Eat well:
Eating a balanced diet regularly supports the body’s ability to adapt to stress. - Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drugs:
Generally, the use of these products does not reduce stress, but simply helps a person avoid the causes of the stress. Avoiding these while focusing on eating well, sleeping enough, and taking a break can help you limit the stress in your life.
